Battle of the Persuasion Adaptations 

"Passive" is not how I would describe Anne. Depressed, trapped, defeated, yes. The realism is part of what makes the 1995 version so powerful.

There are things about the 2007 version that I really like, but Amanda Root is so *physically* Anne Elliott and her portrayal is so on point - and the overheard conversation and letter scenes so powerful - that 1995 will always be my favorite.

The realism of the 1995 version, including the sadness, loss, less than glamorous good looks-- is part of what made it perfect.

Ciaran Hinds looked like a man who had spent many years at sea, had been in battles, and was used to commanding men. Rupert Penry-Jones looked like a man who wouldn't know a bowsprit from a yardarm. To me, such things matter. The 1995 version, to me, is quite beautiful. It takes the novel and translates it into a great film. I became a bit annoyed watching the 2007, especially when Wentworth bought Kellynch. Why? Even if it had been possible, given that entail issue, surely the best thing for Anne was to get away from there? It allowed her to grow as a woman, with a husband who loved her, one who needed nothing from Kellynch, except Anne.

Amanda Root was the best Anne 😭✨ and Ciaran the best Capt. Wentworth

I love the 1995 version. It's so subtle! Ciardan Hines is amazing!

I do prefer the 1995 version to the 2007 one, but that is largely due to that repressed longing the actors have together. Just the intensity of their eye contact. So. Good. But the 2007 one is fun.

In Persuasion, I always felt the word for Anne was Duty. Her sense of duty to her family and to others as a child of the prominent family in the neighborhood was what drove her. Her duty to marry well was what made her sway to the opinion of those of rank. The modern tendency To present this as a wishy-washy character is to do her a disservice and removes an entire layer from her personality. It also removes a layer of pain that she has when Wentworth sees this sense of feminine duty as an personal affront and not a conscious choice not to marry for her family’s detriment. She chose not to be selfish to her own detriment. It was not a blind listening to Lady Russell as even some of the book characters present.

1995 is wonderful.Capitan Wentworth and Anne are perfect.

It's funny I have the completely opposite reaction from you between the 2007 and 1995. I preferred the 1995 version. I felt Sally Hawkins was just a little too nervous and angsty. I found the supporting cast from the 1995 memorable. Particularly Sophie Thompson as Mary and Sam West as Mr Elliot. That kiss in the 2007 version was just too goofy for words

One part I absolutely adore with the 2007 adaption, is when Captain Wentworth introduces Anne to Harville, and Harville knows exactly who she is and what she has been to his good friend. We see that Wentworth has told Harville about Anne at some previous time, which shows us a lot, both about Harville and Wentworth's friendship, and about how deeply hurt Wentworth has been by his relationship with Anne. (Wait a minute, you're Miss ANNE Elliot?! Dude!) But I have to vote for the 1995 as my favorite - it just gets Anne and Wentworth so perfectly.

I would add that Anne, while reserved and resigned to put others before herself is extremely capable. Keeping her cool in any emergency; while everyone else freaks out is like her super power. The most likable aspect of her character. She presents as a doormat for everyone but she is really the take charge leader. She takes charge of the families expenses when it hits a dire level, she takes charge of the care of her nephew when he is dangerously injured and like wise Louisa. She does most of this while she is herself in a long term depression.

The 2007 version has my heart. It really evokes the longing, yearning for a do-over, and regret that both parties hold. I also found it to be far more intimate. Having Anne vocalize her thoughts through a journal made it seem like you knew her, like you were her closest confidant rooting for her.

Wentworth dropped his writing powder. And yes, it’s a great scene. The ‘95 is definitely my fav. I thought Sophie Thompson & Phoebe Nichols were spot on as the sisters and absolutely fell in love with Admiral & Mrs. Croft. I liked that Anne was rather plain too, like she really had “lost her bloom.” Made her very believable and relatable. It’s also a very beautiful film. That opening scene of the water & the gorgeous score, then the final tag on the ship with the Italian art song during the credits. A truly lovely film!

I am surprised that you thought the minor characters in the 1995 version were not memorable. I was amazed when I first saw it, how many characters stood out as distinct and (usually) lovable - only the two Musgrove sisters were interchangeable. I loved the Admiral and especially Mrs Croft, Mary was funny without being completely ridiculous and Mrs Smith and her nurse were unforgettable. Amanda Root was perfect as Anne, initially solemn and plain, but regaining her glow as she overcame her initial fear of re-meeting Captain Wentworth. Ciaran Hinds was subtle and dignified. What strikes me most about this adaptation is the quietness of the central characters, like the eye of a storm while the hurricane of the other characters rage around them. This is why I disliked the later version so much. Anne changes from a refined, inward, sensitive character to one who spends most of her time running around (which may not be a huge personal flaw) or crying (which is a distinct turn-off.) The scene where Wentworth confessed his love for Anne to another character undercuts the tension of the will he/won't he ending (we already know her thoughts) in the later version, and I was surprised on re-reading the novel to find that it was included. By omitting this scene in 1995, the suspense remains until the end, So, for me, it is 1995 all the way with the glorious cast of characters and especially the luminous Anne of Amanda Root.

I prefer Sally Hawkins in 2007, but Ciaran Hines knocks it out of the park - just a better actor than the other Wentworth (can't remember actor's name)

1995 version is one of my favorite movies. Little known fact that the actress may who played Lady Russell, Susan Fleetwood, was Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac’s sister who sadly passed away in 1995. She was a brilliant actor. If you can find it, she was in a great mini series called Summer’s Lease in 1989.

Persuasion is my favourite austen novel for a myriad of reasons. But primarily I just think it's so romantic that these two people manage to find their second chance at happiness. My personal favourite version is the 1995 miniseries. I think the casting and acting is just **chefs kiss**. I enjoyed the 2007 version but the things you loved - like Anne running around Bath like a crazed person and the super slow kiss (with some hints of saliva 🙈) - those were the things I really disliked. It just didn't do it for me. Enjoyed this series though!

The Persuasion (2007) adaptation has me in a chokehold. That movie is so fucking moving I can't-

I've only seen the 1995 adaptation and fell in love with it. I love the entire movie and especially Root and Hinds. I've seen that one so many times and have no desire to even watch another version.

I definitely prefer the 1995 version. The actors have such a believable chemistry. You can almost feel the agony and the joy at the end. Hands down, my favorite

In the 1995 version, Captain Wentworth drops a can of pounce, which was "used both to dry ink and to sprinkle on a rough writing surface to make it smooth enough for writing." 🙂

I agree! I very much preferred and gravitated to the 2007 version. The facial expressions, the anguish, her regret of choice. Wonderfully portrayed by Sally Hawkins. Rupert James was the most eye candy version of Captain Wentworth. I myself fell in ❤️ with him. His pain and anger was done to perfection. I found my self routing for them both. Although the running scene was drawn out, my heart was racing with Anne’s through the streets of Bath. Anne loved and cherished her childhood home of Kellyrich Hall, more so than her self absorbed father and sister. So I found it befitting that Wentworth bought it for her, however inaccurate the ending was. 2007 hails as my favorite and I will not waiver.

I first and saw and fell in love with the 1995 version (because I'm old). I didn't like the 2007 version as much when I first saw it, but enjoyed it more on subsequent viewings. I enjoyed some of the things you called out (the change in cinematography as Anne gains confidence) and I do like the cast a lot. But Amanda Root (you talk about Sally Hawkins' eyes but Amanda Root's eyes are so perfectly communicative as well) and Ciaran Hinds are simply so perfect. I just feel the longing and the suppressed love and the pain so much, but it's so subtly beautiful. That said, I'm so thrilled to have TWO such perfect adaptations that I can watch over and over and enjoy them both so very much. When I was young, Emma was my favorite. Then Pride & Prejudice. But now that I'm older and can appreciate it more, it's Persuasion. It's just so perfect, and both of these adaptations are so amazingly well done.

I was introduced to persuasion through the 2007 version and I do love it (the soundtrack when she's looking at old letters kills me) but 1995 is superior and I adore those versions ❤ ♥

My favorite version is the 1995. I haven’t read the book, but I love the 1995 film. To be honest I related a lot to Anne. I used to be extremely shy and quiet. I like everything about the 1995 version. It just makes so much sense. Anne is rational but also very insecure. She’s made mistakes and she’s ashamed and basically realizes that she doesn’t have any friends either-no one who really cares about her after “becoming a spinster” essentially. However instead of lashing out she takes the cruel comments and treatment because she knows ultimately that it was her fault for rejecting the man she loved just because her family told her to (basically choosing money and listening to people she knew didn’t really love her as they should) and she quietly starts to make amends, she starts doing the right thing. That’s why she cannot be a Lizzy Bennet or Emma-it’s because her story is actually basically one of repentance, she’s literally the character who chose money and rank over true love. Whereas Elizabeth and Emma did not make that mistake. Anne has always been insecure of herself and looks for safety, but that actually led to her misfortune. Whereas Elisabeth and Emma are not looking for safety but are naturally confident and aren’t really that concerned about losing their wealth/their safety so much. Emma’s just wealthy with no worries of that. Elisabeth is already not wealthy and she does have a little bit of fear of being even worse off, but she’s naturally strong willed. Anne is the character who was born into wealth and rank, and she’s naturally shy and insecure. She fell in love with a man who had nothing and unfortunately because she’s afraid and naturally always been insecure (probably compounded by her family being the type to compare others and nitpick everything) she runs away back to “safety.” But, then only much later realizes that basically pursuing what appears to be safe actually isn’t-that basically life, that whatever is meaningful in life, does involve some risk. And that you have to be brave sometimes.

The item that Captain Wentworth drops in the 1995 film is the sand container. They would use this to sprinkle sand or some other dry substance to blot up the excess ink after writing, so they could then fold up and seal the letter without the ink smearing onto other parts of the letter.

decidedly, I prefer Persuasions 1995, but in one thing you’re really right: the fact that we don’t know what Anne really thinks and that in addition, her look is so expressive makes Anne an...independent person. This is indeed altogether contradictory. Thus, I realize why I love Anne Elliot 1995 from the beginning: because I see a sovereign woman, who seems to be beyond the stupidity and insensitivity of her family and who knows why she reacted to her beloved donut in such a way and not in another. She may suffer, but she remains sovereign. In this sense Anne Elliot of 2007 is much more credible as an evolving character. Love your content and expression. 💖

I mean 2007 has Rupert Penry Jones….so naturally it has an extra few points! 😍😉

Can I say something about the 1995 costume choices tho! The 2007 plays it with colours and shades all over the place but the 1995 was very much on point! The Musgrove sisters and Mary's red capes over flowy, white cotton dresses making a sharp contrast to Anne's bland, dark moss green and grey velvet pieces is just... chefs kiss.

Just a bit of random observations to add: A sad fact about the 1995 version is that the studio that released the vhs thought the two leads were not attractive enough to draw audiences and so the cover art replaced them with very attractive models. I know because that’s actually how I first saw this film and was surprised when Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds appeared as Anne and Wentworth as they were not who were pictured. I believe what he dropped in the letter scene was a shaker-type ink blotter. The 1995 version is my favorite, and one of the most memorable scenes is actually a tiny one wherein Anne, when meeting Wentworth again for the first time at Charles and Mary’s house, seems to be relatively calm, but the camera pans in on her hands, and the audience sees her desperately gripping the back of a chair she stands in front of as she tries to control her emotions. You are correct in your observation that Wentworth would not be able to buy Kellynch Hall. It was entailed to the male heirs and was done so as a way to protect and keep the property from being sold by wastrel heirs like Anne’s father who, no doubt, would have sold pieces of it or the entire estate to pay off his debts if he could.

Absolutely agree. Sally Hawkins is what I imagined Anne to be.

Totally agree on the 3 supporting cast members you picked out, particularly Mary. Liked them about equally until the last 15 minutes but much prefer 1995 after that. The way they do the letter is brilliant and I like the idea of them sailing off to sea together as an ending more than going back to the country estate.

Persuasion is getting a new adaptation with Henry Golding and Dakota Johnson I hope Daria does a review when the movie comes out.

I can say that I saw all the versions. I think the best of all is the one from 1995, with MAGNIFICENT performances. Ciaran Hinds is a sea captain, battle-hardened and obviously devastated by lost love, but I think he is the dashing Wentworth that Jean Austin would illustrate. Amanda Root so sweet, she is the perfect Anne, her looks say more than a thousand words. This version for me is the most exquisite, not only because of the interpretations that I think elevate the film a lot, but because of the wonderful dialogues, as shown by the evolution of the protagonists, of the frivolous society and its treatment of Anne. The anthology scene is not only the kiss at the end, so delicate, the best is when Captain Wentworth asks his father for Anne's hand in front of everyone, the looks of both and their smiles ... are sublime. I change the version of 2007 Sally Hawkins did not finish convincing me and Rupert Penry-Jones does not look like a sailor, rather a gentleman of high society.

I completely agree with all your choices and the reasons for your choices!! Especially Sally Hawkins. Her eyes showing pain, love and longing in one one glance at Frederick. And her voice when he’s around. 😢 Plus you’re right in Regency time her sprinting around ( and kissing - THAT KISS 😍) would’ve been so scandalous, but I think it’s needed to show she doesn’t care what others think if it means she loses Wentworth. I rewatch that adaptation every month because of the two leads.

I will admit I've not seen your #1 pick, but I'll still suggest you should have gone with your first instinct. The Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root adaptation is PERFECT, the best Jane Austen adaptation I've seen. Hinds looks and acts like a sea captain, and Amanda looks like a slightly faded near-beauty. She is prettier and more suited to the role than your choice, and the other Captain Wentworth is too young and looks more like a stuck-up baron than anyone connected with the sea.

I loved that you described Anne Elliott as a side character in any other novel but wasn't the only heroine Austen wrote who would have been a side character in any other novel. Catherine Moreland is a sweetheart but Eleanor Tilney is the character whose cruel father separates her from the man she loves like a true gothic heroine and Emma's Jane Fairfax has a secret engagement that will lift her and her family out of poverty- Emma herself is just an obnoxious neighbor. Taking "side" characters and showing them grow internally is a great trick of hers. Anyway, 1995's Persuasion is the best and now I have to fight you.

I'm so glad I found this channel! My people! lol One of the things I really enjoyed about the 2007 version was when Wentworth began doing little things to *force* Anne to allow someone to take care of her. She falls, and while others may be waiting for her to pull herself up - which she absolutely would have - there he is, gently lifting her. When she protests the carriage ride, she insists she's fine and someone else should take it, and there's Wentworth, just over her relentless selflessness, plucking her up and plonking her down. lol The jump and fall injury when Anne immediately takes charge, and he just looks at her in a bit of awe, then later basically rescues her from the chaos that is Mary by asking her to come with him to deliver the news. That was two fold, as he realized he wanted and needed her there to help him. It's such a great adaptation, though truthfully I enjoy all of them for their own special reasons.

My favorite is also the 2007 version! The way it's filmed really conveys her grief and anxiety around everything happening around her.

Your enthusiasm for Austen adaptations is so lovely :)

I'm a 1995 fan just because I feel it so perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the book as well as those "blink and you miss them" moments that Austen describes, like glances between people and tiny details, like Mr. Elliot admiring Anne's beauty in Lyme and Captain Wentworth noticing his admiration of her. I don't like how Elizabeth is such a grump, but Sir Walter is properly ridiculous and Mary is excellent. But you've given me a lot of food for thought about the Sally Hawkins one! The marathon and weird kiss were very off-putting for me, but I will watch it again with a fresh perspective!

2007, Sally Hawkins and RP Jones till I die!!! Thank you for this!

I love this “adaptation series”concept!!

A young woman of any class running on the street back in those days was unheard of I think. So 2007 Anne is definitely throwing caution to the wind and is overcome by the urgency of the moment. But for me Ciaran Hinds is the true Wentworth down to the weather beaten face. His eyes actually shine every time he looks at Anne, even when he’s pissed at her. And also, it’s probably because of the movies and series I’ve watched, that is I have no background in history and historic appearance, but period pieces always lose me when the hair doesn’t look authentic to the era. It’s really bad when you can tell the decade it was filmed in (as in the ‘70 show). But also when it just looks too simple, as in the 2007 one. I get it, Anne was not vain and didn’t bother with being fashionable, but she was very duty bound and a baronet’s daughter would’ve taken better care of her appearance if only because she’d get a lot of nagging from her family otherwise. I feel the 1995 captured the period better in that regard.

I love the 2007 version! The excitement and feels. So great!

Flashback to 1990s. You read about a wonderful production of Jane Austen's Persuasion that is coming to the home video market. This means rent it from the movie rental place because the price to buy a new non-mainstream release would be too expensive to buy. So you get in the car and drive across town only to find they don't have the movie. And they only put out new releases on certain days and so if they get it, it could be another week. So back in the car the next week and the next and they finally have it! And they only had one copy and someone else got there first. Which means going back every few days for a few weeks waiting for it to be returned until you manage to snag the one cassette they have. The work you used to have to put into getting your hands on a movie that was not yet "priced for home sales" took patience and determination so at least in my case no other production could ever mean so much as the hard to come by 1995 version of the film.

I am right there with you, 2007 is the best version, at least so far. I do love 1995 as well I think of it as a bit more reserved version, its good, but I love Sally Hawkins as Ann and Rupert Penry Jones as Capt Wentworth. I love all those longing glances where as soon as the other looks, they turn away. I love how though he remains resentful and hanging with the two musgrove sisters, he is johnny on the spot when Ann falls, and he is thoughtful enough to get her a ride back with his sister because he knows Ann is injured and limping, just as you mentioned. I love when Wentworth introduces everyone to Capt Harville and says Miss Elliot and Harville knowing full well how much he loved her says “Miss Ann Elliott?” And of course Wentworth speaking of Ann to Harville, as you said. I didn’t like the running quite as much as you did, I thought it was a bit overdone, that would probably be the only flaw to me, but overall, love the 2007 adaptation.

2007 version is the one for me too! And exactly for the points you mentioned! It's absolutely heart-wrenching! And I love the DRAMA at the end too! CHEERS

The best adaptation is the one with Ciaran Hinds...everyone in it is good as is the entire production.

Bad choice - 1995 Persuasion was so much better. 2007 Persuasion was millennial. And that running around Bath at the end was seriously awful. Meanwhile 2022 Persuasion is a car crash.

The 2007 version did make me feel all the feelings, but the 1995 one is the first I saw, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Okay, I don't know if this is still the case, but when my family bought the VHS of the 1995 version, we could NOT get over the photograph they chose for the cover? It was two actors who were not in the movie at all sharing a very, very sexy neck kiss with just a ton of cleavage on show??? And all we could think is, like, maybe it's meant to represent young Anne and Wentworth? But mainly it was probably to make people more likely to pick up the tape and buy it. But it was just so jarringly out of sync with the actual movie's content, it always gave me a giggle. Anyone else remember that?

I had to watch this again after watching the Netflix film. Thank you for reminding me why I love the 2007 version s much!

I'm surprised to say that I kinda disagree. Personally, I really thought I was going to like the 2007 adaptation better because the quality of the production was clearly superior and the silly characters were not as caricaturised but I was very surprised to find the 1995 better in my opinion. Especially in terms of acting and pacing. I think the 2007 had more content but perhaps it's because of this that it felt like it rushed through some very important key plot points which often lacked a proper set-up, like Louisa's fall, or the scenes about Benwick's grief over Penelope, or Wentworth's compromise with Louisa, I didn't feel the severity of all that in the 2007 as I did in the 1995 one (except the compromise, that scene didn't even exist in 1995 and I don't think it was needed). I feel like all of those relied on dictating through the dialogue what was going on instead of making the audience feel the severity of it. Anne also felt a whole lot more passive in the 2007 film, which is to say a lot for Austen's arguably most passive heroine, although I have to give props to the actress: when she cried, I too cried with her. The lead actors in 1995 also simply had much better chemistry. The 2007 had the whole discussion between Wentworth and his friend over how he's not over Anne but the 1995 adaptation did not need it at all! The heartbreak and longing could be literally seen with their looks alone!!! I know this might bet a lot of people up in arms, but the way that actor delivered was Alan Rickman level. There, I said it.

I agree with your list, please don't ever apologize for your opinions. As much as I enjoyed the 2007 version, I got really distracted with the 4th wall breaking and the ending was very rushed. I think they could have added another 15-20 min for a proper conclusion. Speaking of distractions, seeing Anthony Head without Buffy took a while to get used to!

I adore the 1995 version for the aesthetic and Captain Wentworth, as well as the subtle storytelling and cosy, unpolished feel. However, I think Sally Hawkin's performance in the 2007 version is absolutely heartbreaking and gives me a different perspective of Anne's character. Amanda Root's Anne is more at peace with her grief, whereas Sally's Anne is still in a state of mourning. Both Annes are fascinating.

I love the 2007 version until the running. It is so out of the time period, and took me so far out of the story. I was literally shouting at the TV, my husband thought there was something actually wrong. I haven't watched it again because of how negative a taste that left in my mouth.

Girl! Your curls are life giving. I keep telling my hair, "that's what I mean!", every time I style it but for some reason our communication is off. Now onto my more substantial thoughts. The 1995 version was my first introduction to a Persuasion adaptation. As someone who was a bit tepid about the book it really helped me appreciate the finer details of Anne's character. Plus, Ciarán Hinds can do almost no wrong in my book. Like you though the liveliness of the 2007 adaptation captured my imagination. It felt like a more fully fleshed story as it gave such breath to otherwise somewhat sidelined characters. Sally Hawkins in that version is basically my Ciarán Hinds . Unfortunately I could not get past the ridiculousness of Anne running through streets after Wentworth. I don't mind some deviation but that really did not make any sense considering the time period. And that slomo kiss just ruined that moment for me. I watched a commentary once and apparently the director was attempting to capture the solitary tear that was running down Hawkins cheek. Poppycock! Wentworth should have snatched her up and kissed her himself instead of forcing her to break her damn neck trying to reach him. With all of his previous hostility it felt like a demeaning dagger to me. Of course if he had snatched her I would have probably been screaming impropriety from the rooftops. So I guess I'm just not enough of a romantic. I'm loving this serious though. I could dissect Austin's work for days.

I loved the scene with putting her on the carriage!! It always cracked me up. I could just imagine him being like "oh my god why are people so terrible to you that I have to be nice to you don't even think about smiling at me."

I just want to say, I agree! Persuasion 2007 is my favorite!!!

love your insights! my fave version is 1995, but i liked 2007 as well! i think the quietness and subtleness of 1995 suited the story better haha. i tried watching the series, i couldnt finish it ahhh

I love love love the 2007 version -- glad it made your top spot!

Persuasion is one of my favourite novels of all time, and it deserves so much more attention! I'm so happy you're covering it in some way, I loved hearing your opinions about the movies 🥺💗

The Root & Hinds adaptation is a masterpiece. So well done. I suspect extremely under-appreciated. It’s brilliant.

One appreciates Amanda Root (Anne-1995) all the more after seeing her in The Forsyte Saga, she's a terrific actress. Her Wentworth Ciaran Hinds is very famous and been in so many roles. Incidentally, his Wentworth knocks over the blotting dust container while he's writing to Anne. They sprinkled the dust on their letters to blot the ink. I was always a bit annoyed with Anne 2007 running through the streets WITH NO HAT!!!

My fav is 2007, the undertone is so good! Spot on. Especially I watched right after reading he book.

I'm in the minority but I really like the 70s adaptation. To me that Anne is great. Like she stepped out directly from the book. And yes, the production value was not spectacular but that's what it was in that time. BTW I disagree that a successfull adaptation HAS TO change things and "spice things up". IMO that's not true. It usually has to come up with creative ways to leave out some scenes without changing the characters, the mood and the story. E.g. 1995 Sense and Sensibility did great. If you change too much it might as well be an original work. Take 1999 Mansfield Park. What's the point if the main character of the movie is somebody fundamentaly different to her book counterpart? 2000s Persuasion has an atrocious ending - the last 15 minutes are excruciating to watch. Anne running around Bath like a lunatic without a bonnet and gloves? No. The kiss with all the snot running from Anne's nose is just terrible. Also Ruper Penry Jones while very pretty doesn't look and/or act like a hardened ship commander. I just don't believe him to be able to command a HMS frigate... at all. With the exception of the newest Emma the 2000s Austen adaptations are IMO inferior to the 90s ones.

I think you needed another two hours to decide. Lol. That Sally Hawkins version is horrible. Every second scene with her sniveling to the camera…. Couldn’t stand it. Her Wentworth is admittedly very handsome and well worth pining over, but I’ll take Amanda Root and Cirian Hinds any day. That thing he drops writing the letter in the 95 version is a canister of sand or something that’s used to help the ink dry faster when using a quill and ink.

For information's sake the thing Wentworth drops is the sand shaker that they used to dry ink on letters. You can see him blowing the sand off the letter he was writing.

I agree with you 1000%!! I love how the 1995 adaptation is the most loyal to the book, but the emotions that the 2007 adaptation brings makes it my favorite!! 😍🤗❤

I think the reason I love Anne so much is because her story is a second chance/Cinderella twist.

loveeee this series you're doing with Austen adaptations!!

I love your insight. For me Amanda Root and Ciaran Hind will always be Ann and Captain Wentworth. The later 2007 version I found disappointing. This heroine I found to be simpering, and not the sort of person a man like like Wentworth would fall in love with.

My favourite Austen adaptation. There is a fabulous dreamy quality to the images and I love that the sets, lighting, costumes and (lack of) make-up gave it such a feeling of authenticity. It holds up to repeated viewings very well.

I‘m so excited to see your video on the Pride & Prejudice adaptations 🤩 btw: your outfit, makeup and hair is ON POINT for this video ☺️

The 2007 version is one of my faaaaaves that kiss at the end 👀

This video made me genuinely happy - your personality, and sheer joy talking about these movies was pure gold ☺ It feels exactly how I feel when I watch these and other similar romance movies. 100% agree with your ranking, even though I'm biased with 2007 as well and have yet to see the other two versions 😆 I just know I would agree with you. You got a new subscriber😁

2007 is my favorite. Not that I don't adore 1995, I do! But I appreciate exactly the same moments you mentioned: -Wentworth giving a very faint smile at the opportunity to help Anne after she falls from the log -Anne running so shamefully through the streets after a man! -heartbroken gaze that Sally conveys (breaks my heart too) -the convo about Wentworth getting himself tied up with Louisa -Wentworth hoisting Anne onto the carriage. By the way, I also appreciate the carriage scene in 1995. If I didn't know any better, I would have concluded that Wentworth is just seeking an excuse to grope Anne! 😉😄 -my personal favorite: Wentworth's shattered look melting away as Anne denies the rumours and his expression clears away like a gloomy sky giving way to the sun. Someone in the comments said Rupert isn't as good of an actor as Ciaran, and that's simply false. Demonstratively false.

Please your videos are so underrated 😭 I love your content

I appreciate your analysis of these films. I agree with you. Now I want to watch that production again. Thanks for your work.

persuasion is my favorite work that I've read by austen so I was super excited when this popped up in my subscription box💜💜

I really loved your breakdown, so glad I found your channel! The 2007 version was the first one I watched years ago, at the time I found it charming but on rewatching yesterday I found it all a bit drab and humourless. I can appreciate the artistic intent behind the greyish, dull colour palette but having watched the 1995 version for the first time the night before, it really threw into sharp focus how different the two versions are, how funny and rich and vibrant the 1995 is by comparison without losing any of Anne and Wentworth’s pain and longing. I actually don’t mind 2007 Anne pegging it through Bath looking for Wentworth, I think it’s quite moving and is supposed to emphasise how desperate she is to return his affections this time around, she is “quite determined”. The salivary kiss though for me is unforgivable 😅 it just pushed the suspension of disbelief too far. At least in the 1995 version it’s more like a gentle little peck whilst the whole town is distracted by the circus, which I can kind of get on board with? Also, whyyyy did the 2007 Persuasion mess with the format of Captain Harville & Anne’s touching convo about who loves the longest leading to Wentworth writing his beautiful letter?! It’s such an important moment in the plot, Wentworth feeling upset, impassioned, frustrated and more in love with Anne than ever; and he just has to put pen to paper to get it out of his system! That was lost in 2007 and it’s such a shame. Sally Hawkins was a very understatedly beautiful Anne though which seemed right and Rupert Penry Jones was suitably dashing as Wentworth, so I’ll give them that ❤

Loved this review!!! So refreshing

Mary in the 1995 version was absolutely memorable! She was so hilarious, but in a very subtle way that was in keeping with the overall tone of the movie, like all the rest of the film's humour - these characters had elements of caricatures, but the actors delivered them in such a realistic, understated way. The montage where everyone complains to Anne - I read it a bit differently. Again, it was so funny in a very understated way. I didn't think Anne was increasingly fed up. To me, she looked equally mild all the time, which told me that she listened to all the contradicting complaints with equal readiness and lack of judgement - it showcased her kind, fair and steady character. It also showed her position in her circle - yes, she is taken somewhat for granted, but they all rely on her so much. And the Musgroves actually appreciate her for that, respect her other talents and seek out her company - something she doesn't get from her own family. It underlines that, even if she prefers to stay in the background, she has a richness of character for those that care to look. She's the quiet pillar of her small community and everyone she meets seems to be drawn to her quiet charm (lady Russell, the Musgroves, then the Crofts and the Harvilles) - her direct family are the only people who don't value her. Amanda Root expressed so much through her eyes (and I appreciate how they actually glammed her up throughout the movie in keeping with the story, in a very believable way). Ciaran Hinds was as perfect as possible: he looked like an experienced, capable man, and he oozed charisma, he had the charm, the wit, and you could see all the subtle feelings bubbling underneath, his love and hurt, there was so much nuance to his performance (the 2007 Wentworth just seemed... cold and set in his resentment). In short - for me it's 1995 version forever. One of my favourite movies ever! :-)

Thank you! I missed this version of Persuasion, and I agree it is wonderful. I went and watched it right away and had to come back and thank you.

2007 version is my favourite no question about it. The passion was mesmerizing. I got hooked on the movie before I even read the book.

I haven’t seen any of the adaptations for Persuasion but I love this because now I know where to start! Persuasion was the last completed Austen book I’ve read and it also jumped way up there to my top 3! Great video as always. ❤️

What really, REALLY, bothers me about the 2007 version is that Sally Hawkins' Anne is ... a mouth breather! Drove me insane! Kept wanting to close her mouth the whole time. That to me was a deal breaker. I found she practically had the same frightened-deer expression throughout. The movie was very good in general, but no match for the 1995 version. The Wood/Hinds combo for me was perfection itself. Also, in my opinion all the characters were well portrayed in that movie, and the cinematography was gorgeous as was the soundtrack. A pure delight. Thank you so much for this series. I too a-do-re Austen! You're great! I found you by chance and I'm subscribing to your channel.

I love the part in the 1995 version when Wentworth is passing Anne into the carriage after that long walk, and his hand on her back ----- ooh, some regency hotness! And yeah, that scene where they're all complaining to Anne.

Good job - I fully agree with your explanation and rank of the three adaptations

I know you find the earlier versions boring, but from another perspective, if you had been around in the 70/'s, 80's you would have been so grateful for these adaptations. They gave avid Jane Austen fans, especially in the UK, the chance to see our most beloved books acted out. So cut the older generation some slack. Most of these actors were stage/theatre actors and if you watch any BBC series from that era you will find they are all done in this fashion. Look up some old Charles Dickens versions or indeed Jane Eyre with Timothy Dalton.

I loved the 2007 version best but I love how real everyone is in the 95 version. My favorite scene is when they all come back from the walk and they are just sitting around the fire casually drinking tea and lounging around like they went on a huge hike. They are both my favs!

In the 2007 version, it's possible Wentworth assumed the contractual lease of Kellynch Hall for Anne as opposed to purchasing. Of course, I prefer the latter, and would have the fine Admiral and Mrs. Croft relocating to a not so far away handsome estate. Very much enjoyed this upload.

My introduction to persuasion (and your channel) was because of the Netflix version, and now I really want to watch that 2007 version!

I love Your videos from this series, they are very enjoyable

Thanks for sharing!

Just loved this commentary. So totally agree with you ! My favourite Jane Austen .. !!!

I'm a 1995 ride or die fan ( ;- ), but I do like the way you explain about the 2007 "It just makes me feel the same way as when I read the book." I think that's the most important thing to do in an adaptation, for sure.

Agree! Enjoyed this so much.

Love your analysis because I agree completely. Some ditz complained about the shaky camera work in the 2007 version but it just added to sharing the shaky internal state of our heroine. Fun fact: Rupert Penry-Jones explained the kiss was not in the original script, they added it. That's why it took so long. So incredibly romantic... Love your analysis, kudos